I'm so angry!! They removed a nativity scene from public property.

This seems to come up every year, but, for some reason this year, I'm very upset. There was a beautiful nativity scene in a public gardens near my house. It was gorgeous, well, the city removed it because "some" people complained about it. Apparently, there are groups in my community that object to Christmas. I don't get it, if you don't celebrate it, why impede me from doing so? You should be happy you're in a country (Canada) where you can celebrate what you want, and as far as I'm concerned our government bends over backwards to accomodate every culture that comes into this country. Well, if you don't like the culture here, there are plenty of planes leaving the airport going back to your "homeland". I wish our government would grow a backbone. Makes me angry...ARRGGHH!

I don't have a problem with the Navity set but I do wonder if on this public property they also had a Hannuka set (my spelling might be off here and for that I apologize). Do they recognize or display religious artifacts of ones besides Christian? It isn't the only Holiday celebrated in December.
When a religious event is displayed on public property then yes they should make allowances for other religions. Private property is something else and has no bearing on this. However when you are talking a park, school or what have you where the tax payers pay for any decorations placed there then all religions should be represented not just one.

If they already have a Nativity Scene, they may as well display it. Otherwise, the tax money spent on the scene has been wasted.
If they don't have a Hanukkah set, maybe they could get one or have somebody donate one.
Religious tolerance does not mean not showing whatever religious items you have available.
All religions - do you know how many different religions there are? That's not practical.
However, once they show public Christmas scenes in China, Japan and elsewhere, our government should reciprocate. Until then, there's nothing wrong with displaying whatever they already bought.

I would have to say the last solution does make sense. Celebrate all of the holidays associated with the December. The Oakland Museum of California has what they call Winterfest. It is a celebration of all cultural holiday (as we know it). Christmas, Channukah, Kwanzaa and I think there is a winter solstice celebration also around that time. The question seems that it should more about inclusion and education than deprivation. IT's a joyous ocassion.

There is supposed to be separation of church and state. That is the argument at hand. I find it offensive that only one religion is represented, there are other religions in this country. I stand firm on the separation of church and state, any religion should not be represented on public property. I'm a taxpayer also. If there ever comes a time where that separation is gone then all religions should be represented. It's sad I have to go to 8 different stores before I can find Hanukkah decorations, where as for Christmas the decorations are all over the place.

That's just how we work here in Canada.. we side-step our own culture to make sure we don't offend someone else.
I personally celebrate christmas, not the bible version, but the santa claus version. That being said, understand the nativity scene is just a symbol of someone else's beliefs.. I would never complain about it!
Imagine what would happen if you went to another country and complained about their customs or culture, do you think they would accomidate us? Not likely.

I'm like you. I celebrate the Santa version, not the bible version. We have a neighbor down the street with a whole shepherd display. It's not my thing, but hey.. it's not my yard. He can do whatever he likes on his lawn. There is nothing wrong with people having different takes on the holidays. It's all about respect!

I really don't think 'where' the symbol is placed should make a difference...
I mean place a nativity scene in the middle of the road, then yes, that effects me. Place it in a park, and really, doesn't effect me at all.
The bigger question is ... Am I paying for that religious symbol that I don't believe in. I think that might be the bigger question underlying the objection.
I would object a 50-metre tall solid-gold jesus statue.. why? Well, someone had to pay for that, and if it's public money, it was public money not well spent. Not because it's a religious symbol per-say, but it's a symbol of any kind that is not commonly shared amongst those who paid for it.

Well Canada, welcome to the same crap that's been going on in the US for years now :) Isn't it pathetic? Now, if I objected to a Menorrah that was displayed, or whatever Kwanzaa or whatever else other religions display, I'd be considered an unsympathetic racist. Another big thing around here, think it was right after Sept. 11th, the firemen down in Miami started putting American flags on the back of their fire trucks. Couple of Cuban immigrant firemen started complaining they wanted to put their "Cuban flag" on the trucks. Like it had anything to do with Cuba!!! It was about Americans unifying together after a disaster, and showing their support by flying the American flag. Think the whole thing got scrubbed because of those cubans. So sick of it all. Trust me, you're not alone in your anger :)

I'd bet you could get any religious symbol removed from public property. But only Christians try to shove their religion in everyone's face and think the whole country wants to be like them.
Religions should be kept in churchs and homes. I don't mind seeing a statue of Buddha at the temple, but I don't want one out in front of the library. I also don't want to see a cross in front of the library. It's just not the place for it.

But that's just the thing, these are not Christian countries. These are countries where you are free to practice any religion you choose. I choose to practice none. But if I did practice one, I wouldn't be defacing public property with my religious images.

Nice to know this kind of ridiculous molly-coddling doesn't only happen in the US. Why do we lose our right to celebrate Christmas just because of the few who don't want to? Argue for putting up a Menorah or something, but let us keep Christmas. Fascist jerks... sorry, I get a little bitter.

I stated before that I celebrate both holidays and I think you comment about "Menorah or something" is exactly why so many complain. If you were not so narrow minded about PULIC PROPERTY this issue woud not happen. Again I will say it is stupid for people to complain about what others have on their own propery not on public though.

kesfylstra
No need for name calling here... If we have the right to Celebrate a Christ centered Christmas, the Jewish community has the right to celebrate Hanukah, as does ANY other religion celebrate their own holiday.

I see that Godwin's law still applies...
The fact is YOU have not lost the right to celebrate Christmas. If you want to celebrate your holiday, you have the right to do so and to put those displays on YOUR private property. I live in the US and I take issue with any government building or government funded area putting any religious symbol or display up. When my tax dollars are used to endorse a religion other than my own, I have a problem.
Think of it this way. What if it was a pentacle that was put in place of the nativity? Do you think there would be protests then? Would the protesters against the pentacle be any more wrong than those against the nativity? This isn't about people being jerks or facists. It is about the taxes of those that aren't Christians being used to pay for a display that endorses the Christian religion. That is the real issue.

This kind of behaviour angers me as well. If a person does not agree with Christmas celebrations that is fine by me, they can simply choose not to celebrate it. However, they have no right to interfere with the celebrations of others.
If you objected to Chinese New Year or Ramadan you would be labelled as a racist or bigot, so why do the authorities not tell the objectors to Christmas that such racist or religious bigotry is not tolerated.
There are people living here in the United Kingdom from many countries and of many religions, I respect their cultures and their right to uphold them, so I expect my culture to be respected in return.

I agree with you guys. If they can't celebrate christmas, they don't have the right to complain because they are not in their country. It's not racism, it is respecting what was the culture or religion of the people in the community or country you are living in.

I think it is unfortunate that we in America are losing part of our culture. The law makers wouldn't stop any other religion from displaying their theme. They are so afraid of our Christian symbols that helped make this country what it is today.
I understand it is about freedom of religion and not having a national religion but I think they carry it to an extreme.

Is this public garden run by your town hall or who owns it? If the city owns it then I don't think they should display it only because religion and state is suppose to be seprate. That's my reasoning on that. If this public garden was owned by a private orginization not affiliated with any part of the town then it should be allowed to stay up.
I would also think it should be allowed to stay up if it was on a private garden. People should be allowed to put up whatever they want on their own property. As long as it's not causing a problem by distracting other people or breaking any laws.

thats rubbish in my suburb they tried to stop someone putting up an Australian flag(in Australia) because it might offend....Aussies don't take that so eveyone who had strong feelings about it went and bought an Aussie flag....how dare these people come into power and make these decisions.....you just got to beat them, everyone should have gone out bought a nativity scene and put it in their front yard.....Thats called people Power.....

Look at it like this for thousands of years we have been praying to something that dont exist the goverments relise this now with scientific proof which they will release in the near future !!and are slowly removing it and replacing it with happy holidays ....

This is happening a lot in England because it may upset 'ethnic minorities'. We are supposed to be a Christian country and yet Christian traditions now have to take second place.
I'm with you, if Christian celebrations upset people it's up to them to either change or leave and not up to us to pander to them.
I was really angry about Prince Charles saying he would be 'defender of the faiths' whaen he was king. As the head of the church of England he should be defending peoples right to practice Christianity.

That is so awful. I would creat a public uproar if this happened in my town. As well as depriving you of your beautiful nativity, they are also depriving all the young children who love to visit the nativity scenes. One of the gentlemen in our village creates a beautiful nativity scene in his garden every year and people of all cultures bring their children to see it, especially at night when it is all lit up.

Normally, I'm the PC, leftie one in discussions like this but I couldn't agree with you more.
Firstly everyone has a right to celebrate their religious festivals as they see fit, so long as it doesn't harm anyone else.
Secondly, whilst authorities should respect and be involved in the major festivals of other religions, surely they should be most involved in those of the major religious group of their area.
Let's start a bring back Bon Bon's Local Nativity Scene campaign.

Yeah it doesnt seem fair that the true meaning of Christmas cannot be displayed. And those are getting fewer and fewer anymore as it seems all stores, and parks, and anything else public celebrates Santa Clause, and reindeer, and Frosty over Jesus Christ. It is sad and it is wrong. Those "people" always win it seems like-just as it was against the law to pray in school and although you are Canadian, I am sure you remember the bitter controversy with the "Pledge of Allegience" here a few years back. I think they should have all their money taken away, at least here in America, as every form of currency has "In God we trust" printed on it. Is that true for Canadian currency too?

Well, it's great to see the majority of people aren't happy about it. that's a good sign. And all we can do is to keep doing what we are doing now...make our opinions known and continue to fight about it. Don't give in.

That was very shocking to hear and I agree with you that is not right for them to complain about the nativity scene or about how people celebrate Christmas. We have a right to celebrate our holidays how we want to. If they don't like it then they should move away to someplace that doesn't have christmas. I am surprised that the government or whoever removed the scene, would do that just because of some people who do not celebrate christmas. Those people certainly know how to ruin the holiday season and spirit.

Yes, our country suffers under these lies. Thanks to Bill Clinton's political correctness garbage. It is totally wrong that a manger scene is wrong, but swearing in on the Koran is OK. Backwards. How could anyone vote for a Democrat - they heartily endorse all of this nonsense.

Isn't it funny that people seem to forget the "reason for the season!" I bet they aren't removing santa claus from every shopping mall in the area!Someone would be losing some money in that deal probably! I'm all for having a choice over what to believe but - get a life!!!